RU2555621C2 - Light-emitting electronic fabric with light-diffusing element - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: lighting.

SUBSTANCE: light-emitting electronic fabric (1, 35) containing flexible carrier (2) of components, having multiple installed on it light sources (3), and at least one fabric light-diffusing element (4) made with possibility of diffusion of the light emitted by the specified light sources (3). This fabric light-diffusing element (4) contains the first fabric layer (10) with fibers (14), the second fabric layer (11) with fibers (15), and separating layer (12) between the specified first fabric layer (10) and specified second fabric layer (11), at that the separating layer (12) contains separating fibers (16) that hold at distance from each other the specified first and second fabric layers, at that the separating fibers (16) are connected with fibers (14, 15) contained in each of the specified first and second fabric layers, thus mechanically connecting the specified first (10) and second (11) fabric layers with each other.

EFFECT: improved design.

14 cl, 7 dwg

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a light emitting electronic textile with a textile light diffusing element and to a textile substrate.

BACKGROUND

In our daily lives, many types of textiles are used. When electronics gradually integrates into these textiles (electronic textiles are created), new fields of application arise. One such example of a new application is light-emitting textiles, while other examples include textile-based sensitive systems, etc.

Existing electronic textiles typically contain a flexible carrier of components on which electronic components are mounted, and a covering textile layer is laid on top of the electronic components in order to give the electronic textile the necessary texture and feel of the fabric. For use in various applications, such as light-emitting electronic textiles or pressure-sensitive textile systems, etc., electronic textiles often include an additional textile layer located between the flexible component carrier and the covering textile layer. Depending on the application, this additional textile layer may provide different functionality. In the case of light-emitting electronic textiles, such an additional textile layer can be, for example, a light-scattering layer.

Publication WO 2006/129246 describes one example of electronic textiles with such an additional textile layer located between the component carrier and the covering textile layer. Publication WO 2006/129246 discloses a light-emitting electronic textile with a component carrier in the form of a flexible substrate having a plurality of electronic components attached thereto. The light emitting electronic textile in accordance with WO 2006/129246 further comprises a diffusing element formed of two layers of nonwoven fabric with different densities, in which a fabric layer is provided over the diffusing element to give the light emitting electronic textile a normal fabric sensation.

Although WO 2006/129246 offers electronic textiles with the desired mechanical textile-like properties, with electronic components hidden in it and light scattering, there is still room for improvement, particularly in terms of the reliability of this electronic textile.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforementioned and other drawbacks of the state of the art, it is a general object of the present invention to provide improved light emitting electronic textiles and, in particular, light emitting electronic textiles, capable of providing an efficient light output while providing increased reliability and / or increased service life of this light emitting electronic textiles.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light emitting electronic textile comprising a flexible component carrier having a plurality of light sources disposed thereon, and at least one textile light scattering element configured to diffuse light emitted by these light sources, in which this textile is light scattering the element contains a first textile layer containing fibers; a second textile layer containing fibers; and a separation layer located between the first textile layer and the second textile layer, in which the separation layer contains separation fibers that hold the first and second textile layers apart, said separation fibers being bonded to the fibers contained in each of the first and second textile layers, thereby mechanically connecting the first textile layer and the second textile layer to each other.

By "textile" in the context of the present invention is meant a material or product that is fully or partially made of fibers. These fibers may be provided as separate fibers / threads or may be knitted together in a multi-fiber configuration, such as a thread. Textiles can, for example, be made by weaving, weaving, knitting, knitting, stitching, lapping. Textiles, in particular, may be woven or non-woven.

Moreover, the flexible component carrier may, for example, comprise a flexible printed circuit board or a textile substrate containing electrically conductive filaments. Such a textile substrate may, for example, be formed using interwoven electrically conductive and non-conductive threads.

The present invention is based on the understanding that the scattering of light emitted by light sources, as well as the efficient use of heat generated by these light sources (and / or other electronic components that may be contained in electronic textiles) can be achieved by using the so-called 3- dimensional fabric. In a 3-dimensional fabric, the first textile layer with fibers is located at a distance from the second textile layer with fibers by means of a separation layer sandwiched between the first textile layer and the second textile layer. This separation layer contains separating fibers that hold the first and second textile layers away from one another, and these fibers are bonded to the fibers contained in the first and second textile layers, thereby mechanically bonding the first and second textile layers to each other . With the help of this structure, a light-scattering structure is formed, which allows a certain flow of air to flow, at least through the separation layer. This air stream can remove heat generated by electronic components, such as light sources.

Since the heat generated in electronic textiles by electronic components can be removed more efficiently than when conventional light-scattering elements (usually made of nonwoven materials or foam) are used, the reliability and / or service life of electronic components can be increased , or you can do without cooling elements of a different type.

In addition, the textile light-scattering element contained in the light-emitting electronic textiles in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention can protect light sources and / or other electronic components from mechanical wear. For example, the structure of the textile light scattering element makes it easier for the developer of electronic textiles to design the mechanical properties of this textile light scattering element. So, for example, the reaction of a textile light-scattering element to mechanical stress acting on a light-emitting electronic textile can be controlled by selecting the properties and / or density of the separation fibers. The reaction of the textile light diffusing element may, for example, include the reaction of the textile light diffusing element to plane stress and / or shear stress.

Moreover, by using a relatively thin light diffusing element, a relatively strong damping of the voltage applied to the light emitting electronic textiles can be achieved compared to the case when conventional textile light diffusing elements are used.

It should be noted that the light-emitting electronic textiles in accordance with the present invention can preferably be substantially web-shaped, which means that the horizontal dimensions of the light-emitting electronic textiles (in two dimensions) are substantially larger than its thickness. For example, the thickness of light-emitting electronic textiles may be less than one tenth of the smallest side size (length / width).

The separation fibers in the separation layer can be bonded to the fibers contained in each of the first and second textile layers by looping around these fibers.

In accordance with various embodiments, the flexible component carrier may comprise a first textile layer. Thus, in these embodiments, the light sources are located on the first textile layer. Light sources may be mounted on either side of the first textile layer or may be integrated in the first textile layer.

Advantageously, at least one of the light sources may be configured to emit light through the separation layer and the second textile layer.

In addition, at least one of the light sources may be configured to emit light through the first textile layer, the separation layer and the second textile layer.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the first textile layer may comprise an electrically conductive structure configured to provide electrical connection to said light sources.

This electrically conductive structure may be formed by at least one electrically conductive fiber. This electrically conductive structure, for example, can be formed by at least one electrically conductive thread. Alternatively, the electrically conductive structure can be printed or electroplated (electrolytic deposition or deposition by chemical reduction), or the electrically conductive structure can be formed by a combination of at least one electrically conductive fiber and a printed or electrolytically deposited portion of the structure.

Moreover, light-emitting electronic textiles in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention may comprise at least one electrically conductive fiber extending from the first textile layer to the second textile layer through the separation layer. Thus, the selected light sources and / or electronic components can be interconnected by means of an electrically conductive fiber that passes through the separation layer. This allows intersections of conductors without the need for a flexible carrier of components with multiple electrically conductive layers.

Further, the electrically conductive fiber can preferably pass back from the second textile layer to the first textile layer through the separation layer.

The passage of the electrically conductive fiber from the first textile layer to the second textile layer (and, if necessary, back to the first textile layer) can be particularly useful in those embodiments in which the first textile layer contains at least one electrically conductive fiber. Then, the conductive fiber passing through the separation layer can interact with the conductive fiber in the first textile layer to provide electrical access to one or more light sources of the second textile layer.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, the second textile layer may comprise an electrically conductive structure configured to provide electrical connection of electrical components thereto, whereby more complex electronic textiles can be produced.

Moreover, the light-emitting electronic textile in accordance with the present invention may further comprise a third textile layer containing fibers and a second separation layer located between the first textile layer and the third textile layer, wherein the second separation layer contains separation fibers that are spaced apart from a first textile layer and a third textile layer, the separation fibers being bonded to the fibers contained in each of the first and third weave textile layers, thereby mechanically connecting the first and third textile layers to each other.

According to another embodiment, the light-emitting electronic textile may comprise a first textile light-diffusing element configured to diffuse light emitted by the first set of light sources, and a second textile light-diffusing element configured to diffuse light emitted from the second set of light sources different from the one first set of light sources. These first and second light scattering elements may preferably comprise a first textile layer containing fibers, a second textile layer containing fibers, and a separation layer located between the first textile layer and the second textile layer, where the separation layer contains separation fibers that are kept at a distance from each other the other mentioned first and second textile layers, and the separation fibers are bonded to the fibers contained in each of the first and second textile layers, thereby m mechanically connecting the first and second textile layers to each other.

The light sources contained in the light emitting electronic textiles may preferably be light emitting diodes.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a textile substrate for use in light-emitting electronic textiles, further comprising a plurality of light sources, said textile substrate comprising a first textile layer containing fibers and an electrically conductive structure configured to provide electrical connection to the light sources, a second textile layer containing fibers, and a separation layer located between said textile layer and a second textile layer, where the separation layer contains separation fibers that hold the first and second textile layers at a distance from each other, and these separation fibers are bonded to the fibers contained in each of the first and second textile layers, thereby mechanically connecting the first and second textile layers with each other.

Modifications and advantages of this second aspect of the present invention are more similar to the embodiments and advantages described previously in connection with the description of the first aspect of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, showing currently preferred embodiments of the invention and in which:

figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an exemplary light-emitting electronic textile;

figure 2 schematically shows a portion of the configuration of the light-emitting electronic textiles of figure 1 in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment,

figure 3 schematically shows a portion of the configuration of the light-emitting electronic textiles of figure 1 in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cross section of the light emitting electronic textile of FIG. 3;

5 is a perspective view of a section of another exemplary light-emitting electronic textile containing an electrically conductive thread extending from one textile layer to another textile layer and vice versa;

6 is a perspective view of a section of another exemplary light emitting electronic textile containing a third textile layer separated from the first textile layer by a second textile layer, and

7 is a schematic perspective view of an exemplary configuration of a light-emitting electronic textile containing light-scattering inserts located below the covering textile.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In the following description, the present invention is described with reference to light-emitting electronic textiles in which a flexible light-scattering element is formed by a so-called 3D fabric with first and second knitted textile layers and a separation layer containing a thread forming loops around the threads in the first and second textile layers for holding together and at a distance from each other the first and second textile layers. In various illustrated embodiments, the thread in the separation layer is shown as if it is thicker than the threads in the first and second textile layers, and some approximate density and configuration of the separation layer is provided.

It should be noted that this in no way limits the scope of the invention, which is equally applicable to other light emitting electronic textiles having other flexible light scattering elements with first and second textile layers that are held together and spaced apart from each other by textile fibers. For example, the first and / or second textile layer may be woven, and the separation layer may be formed by textile fibers that are thicker or thinner than any yarns in the first and second textile layers. In addition, the density of textile fibers in the separation layer may be greater or less than that shown in the figures, depending, for example, on the required mechanical and / or light scattering properties of the flexible light scattering element.

Figure 1 schematically shows a light-emitting electronic textile 1 comprising a flexible carrier 2 of components having a plurality of light sources 3 placed thereon (for clarity of the image, only one of the light sources is indicated by reference), as well as a flexible light-scattering element made in the form of the so-called 3-dimensional fabric 4, configured so that the light sources 3 can emit light through this flexible light-scattering element 4, so that the emitted light before exiting the light-emitting electron 1 style becomes diffused. The light sources 3 may preferably be light emitting diodes.

The light scattering element 4 scatters the light emitted by the light sources 3 to provide light distribution over a large area. In some applications, the flexible light scattering element 4 may also act as a shock absorbing layer designed to prevent damage to light sources 3 and / or other electronic components caused by external forces.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 3-7, examples of various configurations of the light-emitting electronic textile 1 of FIG. 1 will be described.

First, a portion of the light-emitting electronic textile of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. a flexible light diffusing element 4 is located.

The flexible light diffusing element 4 is shown in the form of a so-called 3-dimensional fabric containing the first textile layer 10 and the second textile layer 11, which are removed from each other and held together by the separation layer 12. In an exemplary embodiment, which is shown schematically in FIG. 2 , the first textile layer 10 is a first knitted layer made of threads 14, and the second textile layer 11 is a second knitted layer made of threads 15. The separation layer is formed by separating threads 16, cat Some form loops around threads 14, 15, respectively, in the first 10 and second 11 textile layers. By means of this configuration of the separation layer 12, a springy and at the same time relatively open structure is formed which allows air to flow through the separation layer 12 at least along this separation layer 12. This provides improved cooling of the light sources 3 as compared with conventional light diffusing materials. Improved cooling provides increased reliability and / or longer life of light sources 3. Depending on the configuration of the first textile layer 10 and / or the second textile layer 11, air is also able to flow relatively freely through the entire light scattering element 4.

Next, a portion of the light emitting electronic textile of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 3, wherein the flexible component carrier 2 comprises a first textile layer 10. In a specific exemplary embodiment, which is shown schematically in FIG. 3, the first textile layer 10 contains electrically conductive filaments 18a, 18b to which light sources 3 are electrically connected. In FIG. 3, light sources 3 are shown arranged on the side of the first textile layer 10 that faces the separating layer 12. To place the light source 3 inside the 3D fabric 4, as schematically shown in FIG. 3, this light source 3 may be for example, inserted through an opening formed in the first textile layer 10. The light source 3 can be electrically connected to the electrically conductive threads 18a, 18b on the side of the first textile layer 10 that faces the separation layer 12, as shown schematically in FIG. 3. However, alternatively, the light source 3 can be electrically connected to the electrically conductive threads 18a, 18b on the side of the first textile layer 10, which is facing away from the separation layer 12. This can be achieved, for example, by means of a flexible connector passing through an opening in the first textile layer 10.

As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the light source 3, alternatively, can be located on the side of the first textile layer 10 that is directed away from the separation layer 12, and can be oriented so that the light emitted by this source 3 light passed through the entire light scattering element 4, that is, through the first textile layer 10, the separation layer 12 and the second textile layer 11.

It should be noted that the light scattering element 4, which is schematically shown in figure 3, can function as a textile substrate, which could be used for some other applications of electronic textiles, not necessarily containing light sources. It should be understood that the following description relating to FIGS. 4-6 applies to various embodiments of such a textile substrate, both with and without electronic components attached thereto.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a cross-section of electronic textiles in figure 3, made along the line I-I. Figure 4 is not a view of a "clean" section, but has a certain image depth in order to better show an exemplary configuration of the separating filaments 16 in the separating layer 12.

As schematically shown in FIG. 4, the light source 3 is electrically connected to the electrically conductive threads 18a, 18b in the first textile layer 10. The light source 3 could be electrically connected to the electrically conductive threads 18a, 18b and attached to the first textile layer 10 in various ways known specialists in this field of technology, including, for example, welding, clamping, gluing, soldering, etc., therefore, figure 4 does not show any details, such as mounting tabs for soldering, etc.

Turning now to FIG. 5, another exemplary light emitting electronic textile 20 is shown, which differs from that shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in that in FIG. 5 this light emitting electronic textile 20 further comprises an additional electrically conductive thread 21, which passes from the second textile layer 11 to the first textile layer 10, and then back to the second textile layer 11. At the same time, in the first textile layer 10, this conductive thread 21 is electrically connected to one (18a) of the conductive threads first th textile layer 10. Thus, by using, for example, the electrically conductive yarn of the second textile layer 11 (not shown in FIG. 5), the operation of the light source 3 can be controlled. Alternatively or in combination, the configuration shown schematically in FIG. 5 can be used to produce intersecting conductors or a pressure sensitive switch. In the case of a pressure-sensitive switch, an additional conductive thread 21 can be introduced to intersect the conductor embedded in the first textile layer 10, so that when the 3-dimensional fabric 4 is compressed, an electrical contact occurs between this conductor and the conductive thread 21.

As shown schematically in FIG. 6, the light diffusion element / textile substrate in accordance with various objects of the present invention is not limited to the case with a single separation layer 12 introduced between the first textile layer 10 and the second textile layer 11. In contrast, the light diffusion element / textile substrate 4 may be multi-layered 3-dimensional fabric. In an exemplary embodiment of such a multilayer 3-dimensional fabric, which is schematically shown in FIG. 6, the second textile layer 25 is separated by the second separation layer 26 from the first textile layer 10. Like the first textile layer 10, the third textile layer 25 contains non-conductive threads 28 and electrically conductive threads 29a, 29b, and the second separation layer contains a thread 30 that forms loops around filaments 14 in the first textile layer 10 and around filaments 28 in the third textile layer 25. In the configuration of FIG. 6, different light sources are located at different “levels” that provide different degrees of light scattering for different light sources. Alternatively or in combination, different light sources may be located on opposite sides of the first textile layer 10, thereby forming a light-emitting electronic textile with two-sided emission of diffused light.

Finally, FIG. 7 schematically shows an exemplary configuration 35 of light-emitting electronic textiles containing light diffusing inserts 36 located below the covering textile 37. These light diffusing inserts 36 are formed by a 3D fabric, which, for example, may have the configuration described previously with reference to FIG. 6. By performing light scattering elements in the form of inserts 36 of a 3-dimensional fabric, different light scattering can be achieved for different light sources 3.

Additionally, from a study of the drawings, description and appended claims, those skilled in the art can understand and, when implementing the claimed invention, make changes to the described embodiments.

In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and singular does not exclude plurality. One processor or another unit may fulfill the functions of several elements specified in the claims. The simple fact that some measures are given in the interdependent claims does not mean that their combination cannot be used to obtain a positive effect.

Claims (14)

1. Light emitting electronic textiles (1, 35), containing:
- a flexible carrier (2) of components having a plurality of light sources (3) located on it, and
- at least one textile light-scattering element (4), configured to scatter light emitted by said light sources (3),
wherein said textile light scattering element (4) comprises:
- the first textile layer (10) containing fibers (14);
- a second textile layer (11) containing fibers (15); and
- a separation layer (12) located between said first textile layer (10) and said second textile layer (11),
wherein said separation layer (12) contains separation fibers (16) that hold said first and second textile layers at a distance from each other,
wherein said separation fibers (16) are bonded to the fibers (14, 15) contained in each of said first and second textile layers, thereby mechanically connecting said first (10) and second (11) textile layers to each other. 2. Light-emitting electronic textiles (1, 35) according to claim 1, wherein said separation fibers (16) are bonded to fibers (14, 15) contained in each of the first and second textile layers by looping around said fibers. 3. Light-emitting electronic textiles (1, 35) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said flexible component carrier comprises said first textile layer (10). 4. Light-emitting electronic textiles (1, 35) according to claim 3, wherein at least one of said light sources (3) is located between the first and second textile layers, said at least one of the light sources (3) being made with the possibility of emitting light through said separation layer and said second textile layer. 5. Light-emitting electronic textiles (1, 35) according to claim 3, wherein at least one of said light sources (3) is configured to emit light through said first textile layer, said separation layer and said second textile layer. 6. Light-emitting electronic textiles (1, 35) according to claim 3, wherein said first textile layer (10) comprises an electrically conductive structure (18a-b) configured to electrically connect said light sources (3) to it. 7. Light-emitting electronic textiles (1, 35) according to claim 6, in which said electrically conductive structure is formed by at least one electrically conductive fiber (18a-b). 8. Light-emitting electronic textiles (1, 35) according to claim 1, containing at least one electrically conductive fiber (21) passing from said first textile layer (10) to a second textile layer (11) through said separation layer (12). 9. Light emitting electronic textiles (1, 35) according to claim 8, wherein said electrically conductive fiber (21) passes back from said second textile layer (11) to said first textile layer (10) through said separation layer (12). 10. The light-emitting electronic textile (1, 35) according to claim 1, wherein said second textile layer comprises an electrically conductive structure configured to provide electrical connection of electronic components to it. 11. Light-emitting electronic textiles (1, 35) according to claim 1, additionally containing:
- a third textile layer (25) containing fibers (28); and
a second separation layer (26) located between said first textile layer (10) and said third textile layer (25),
wherein said second separation layer (26) comprises separation fibers (30) that hold said first (10) and third (25) textile layers at a distance from each other,
wherein said spacer fibers (30) are bonded to the fibers contained in each of said first and third textile layers, thereby mechanically connecting said first and third textile layers to each other. 12. A light emitting electronic textile (35) according to claim 1, comprising a first flexible light diffusing element (36) configured to diffuse light emitted by the first set of light sources (3), and a second flexible light diffusing element configured to diffuse light emitted a second set of light sources different from said first set of light sources. 13. Light emitting electronic textiles (1, 35) according to claim 1, wherein said light sources are light emitting diodes. 14. A textile substrate for use in light-emitting electronic textiles, further comprising a plurality of light sources, wherein said textile substrate comprises:
- a first textile layer (10) containing fibers (14) and an electrically conductive structure (18a-b) configured to provide electrical connection to said light sources (3);
- a second textile layer (11) containing fibers (15); and
- a separation layer (12) located between said first textile layer and said second textile layer,
in which said separation layer (12) contains separation fibers (16), which keep said first and second textile layers at a distance from each other,
wherein said separation fibers (16) are bonded to the fibers (14, 15) contained in each of said first and second textile layers, thereby mechanically connecting said first and second textile layers to each other.

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